Bridging



Nov. 10, 1953 o. B. HOUGHTON, JR., Emu.-

BRIDGING Filed July 10, 1950 IIII IIIIIIIIIII Dale 8. Hauglrlomdr. Dale8. Haugh/on INVENTORS 4 BY wear-3'".

Patented Nov. 10,, 1953 OFFICE- BRIDGING Dale B. Houghton, Jr.,Frankfort, and Dale B. Houghton, Beulah, Mich.

Application July 10, 1950, Serial No. 172,924

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to improvements in structural bridging.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved bridging to beused in building construction between floor and ceiling joists, saidbridging construction being extensibly adjustable and being arranged inassembly so as to be sturdy and durable.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved latchingdevice for use in the bridging as well as an improved guide assembly forthe two extensibly arranged members, illustrated as being of channelshape.

Other objects and features of importance will become apparent infollowing the description of the illustrated form of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device, portions being broken awayin section to illustrate detail of construction;

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line2-2 of Figure l and in the direction of the arrows, and in enlargedscale;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 ofFigure 2 and in the direction of the arrows; and

Figure 4. is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4 ofFigure 1 and in the direction of the arrows, this view being in enlargedscale.

In the instant invention, we have endeavored to improve known andexisting forms of extensible, metallic bridging to be used whereverfound desirable, as in bracing floor or ceiling joists. To this end,there is a pair of telescopic male and female bars or channels I and [2,the male channel being slightly smaller in crosssection than the femalechannel l2. The channel I0 is provided with a pair of opposed side wallsor legs I4 and it connected by a web or bight portion I8 (Figure 2). Thechannel I2 has opposed side walls or legs 20 and 22 connected by the webor bight portion 24. The channel In being of slightly smaller size incrosssection is nested in the channel l2 and is capable of slidingthrough one end thereof, thereby causing the brace to be extensible.

The legs l4 and [-6 are each provided with a substantially louver-shapeddog or stop 26 which is adapted to be disposed in a series ofcorrespondingly shaped recesses 28 in the legs 20 and 22 of the channel[2. The series of recesses 28 in the leg 20 are dished outwardly of saidleg '20 and the front wall 30 of each acts as an abutment for t e rontal of he d g 26 so that the necessary stop is provided. Each recess 28has a crimp 32 which communicates therewith and opens through the upperedge of the leg 20.

The series of recesses 34 which are formed in the leg 22 cooperate withthe stop 36 in the leg 14 of the channel l0. Accordingly, the channelsIll and [2 may be slid together in the nested relation as disclosed inFigure 1 until the stops 36 and 26 rest in the two opposed stopformingrecesses, one being of the series 28 while the other is of the series34, so that the effective length of the two channels is arrived at. Thedogs 26 and 36 may be forced between the walls of the female member l2for engagement in the desired depressions 28 and 34, respectively, orfor disengagement therefrom through the channels 32.

For the specific construction of the recesses, attention is invited toFigure 3 which shows that they are pressed in the metal of the legs ofthe channels and that the metal is sheared so as to provide a moreeffective stop.

A vertically rising guide 40 is formed in the web 24, while a similarlyshaped guide 42 is formed in the web l8. These guides are disposed incontacting relationship with each other to interlock the channels at thewebs thereof. A screw or nail receiving opening or aperture 44 is formedin the guide 42 (Figure 1) so as to hold the bridging in place properly.The ends 46 and 48' of each channel are beveled to fit properly againstthe rafters and floor of a buildmg.

In order to help lock the inner channel l0 within the outer channel I2,guiding protuberances or guides 4-6 and 48 are punched or pressed intothe legs 20 and 22 and are adapted to form a means of prescribing themovement of the inner channel with respect to the outer channel. Theupper edges of the legs I 4 and I6 are adapted to slide on the lowersurface of each guide.

In operation, the necessary length of the bridging is selected bysliding the inner channel in the outer channel with the stop members 26riding over the various stop recesses 28 and 30. When the desired lengthof the composite device is obtained, the bridging is simply nailed orscrewed in place.

Having described the claimed as new is:

A bridging unit comprising a pair of telescopically adjustable bars ofsubstantially U-shaped cross-section, the female bar including alonitudinal guide rib in its bight portion and further includinglongitudinally spaced, outwardly invention, what is pressedsubstantially louver-shaped projections defining depressions in itsopposed side walls spaced from the free longitudinal edges thereof, saidfemale bar still further having channels in said side walls extendingfrom the depressions to said longitudinal edges, substantiallylouver-shaped dogs struck out from the side walls of the male sectionand engageable selectively in and disengageable from the depressionsthrough the channels for releasably securing the bars in adjustedposition, said male section having a longitudinal groove in its bightportion slidably accommodating the rib, and guides struck inwardly fromsaid side walls of said 1e- Number 4 male bar adjacent one end thereofand engaged with the longitudinal edges 0! the male bar for slidablysecuring same in said one end of the female bar.

DALE B. HOUGHTON, JR. DALE B. HOUGHTON.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NameDate 1,245,354 Kirsch Nov. 6, 1917 2,247,024 Hurley June 24, 1941

